For most of my college years, I have had to pay double the tuition amount compared to my peers. I am not that different from most: I’m an average-grade student who has lived in Missouri most of my life and I understand obscure cultural references. But there is a difference: I am a DACA recipient.
DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy passed in 2012 under former President Obama to protect undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. The requirements of the program include being 16 years old or younger when entering the country, living in the U.S. since July 15, 2007, and not being a convicted felon. The DACA program provides a work permit for two years that needs to be renewed six months before it expires. The cost for the renewal is $495 and requires a trip to the nearest immigration office, where prints are taken to ensure the recipient has not committed a felony.
How does being a DACA recipient connect with a higher tuition cost? DACA recipients and undocumented students are charged the highest tuition rate if they are attending a public university or college. In 2015, the Missouri legislature inserted language in the preamble of the Higher Education Bill known as HB-3 charging undocumented students the highest tuition rate in public institutions.
“Missouri does not have any existing legislation that prohibits undocumented students from enrolling in public institutions. The problem is when it comes to affordability. If you cannot afford it, you really cannot access it,” said Karina Arango, director of advocacy of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.
Today, HB-3 still includes language that states: “No funds shall be expended at public institutions of higher education that offer a tuition rate to any student with an unlawful immigration status in the United States that is less than the tuition rate charged to international students.” The bill also addresses state scholarships: “No scholarship funds shall be expended on behalf of students with an unlawful immigration status in the United States.”
When I began applying to colleges and universities in the St. Louis area, I was not aware of the wording in the bill or of the lack of scholarship options for DACA recipients and undocumented students. I became aware when I applied for Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA). I was informed I could not apply for FAFSA as federal scholarships, grants and loans are not eligible for DACA recipients.
It was a gut-punching feeling realizing that while I felt as American as apple pie, I was seen as an outsider.
The biggest surprise came when I applied for St. Louis Community College. I had to go through loops and hoops to prove I had lived in St. Louis since I was 7. But the most surprising part of all was the tuition cost. Instead of being charged $122 per credit hour, I was charged $243 because I was considered an international student. I had to work 40 hours a week to be able to afford my tuition.
“I would say one of the major barriers that students face is cost of attendance and tuition rates in Missouri,” said Felipe Martinez, a student adviser who specializes in advising undocumented students. Martinez lived in Missouri until 2021 and provided advice for DACA and undocumented students who live in the state.
“One of the biggest challenges for myself as a student adviser was addressing the schools where students can apply. It’s really finding the schools where you can get a fair tuition rate,” Martinez said. “I mean, that is the starting line, right? It is just, can we just have a fair tuition rate?”
One piece of advice Martinez provided for undocumented students who live in Missouri is to apply for private institutions that offer better scholarship options and lower tuition in comparison to universities such as University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) or University of Missouri. The downside, as Martinez explains, is if the student needs to begin in community college and the qualifications required to be accepted in these private institutions.
There are few private institutions in St. Louis that offer more financial aid to undocumented students, in comparison to public institutions. Private universities like Webster offer the same tuition and scholarships to undocumented students. It was one of the main reasons Webster appealed to me when I was searching for a university after I graduated from St. Louis Community College.
Attending Webster was a relief, as my immigration status was easily understood, and the application process was easier in comparison to UMSL. I had to make calls and emails to UMSL to explain my legal status. I was never able to resolve anything with UMSL.
With Webster, however, my application took 15 minutes to fill out. I did not need to make additional calls or prove how long I have lived in Missouri. It was a sense of normal I had not experienced when applying to higher education institutions.
“I believe for those private colleges and universities, they have their own ways on how to support students, but, in particular, undocumented students. They do not have to abide by HB-3 because they’re a private university.” Arango said. “The recommendation is if you are going to attend school in the state of Missouri, we would recommend considering a private university or college.”
For DACA recipients and undocumented students in Missouri, the road for a higher education is bumpy and needs reform. There are young adults like me who desire a college diploma but are stumped by the copied language on HB-3, which causes many to stop their studies or to go through loops to get an education. It is one of the many obstacles that remind those like me that we are at home but not allowed past Lady Liberty’s “golden door.”
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